Retinoblastoma is eye cancer, which is an ocular tumor in the retina cells. It's a life threatening cancer which occurs in the black part of the eye, and can destroy vision. It got its name because it occurs in the retina of the eye.
Another form of eye cancer is medulloepithelioma, but this one isn't as common as retinoblastoma.
Hereditary?
This is sometimes inherited by a gene mutation which is called hereditary retinoblastoma. But if it only happens in one eye, then it usually isn't inherited. It is hereditary in 30 to 40% of patients. 25% of patients with the hereditary disease have a positive family history, while the other 75% of new hereditary patients are caused by new mutations or from inheritance from a parent who carried the gene but doesn't have any symptoms.
1 out of every 15,000 live births gets this disease.
"Who Gets Retinoblastoma?" Digital Journal of Ophthalmology. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <www.djo.harvard.edu/site.php?url=/patients/pi/436>. You can tell if somebody has this disease by the pupil of the eye having a loss of color by being white ish.
Symptoms:
cross eyed
bad vision
painful red eye
inflamation of tissue around the eye
Treatment:
Since retinoblastoma is rare, only few doctors or doctors in major cancer hospitals can treat this disorder. After the tumor is removed there is a good chance, 90%, that the child will live.
"How Is Retinoblastoma Treated?" American Cancer Society. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. <www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content>.
Treatment options:
Enucleation: This means removal of the eye. The eye with the tumor is removed and is sent for a pathology report. The space is replaced by an artificial implant made of plastic, rubber or coral. The child is fitted with prosthesis or artificial eye, made to match the other eye. This artificial eye, of course, does not have any vision.
External beam radiation: as an alternative to enucleation, this method of giving radiation treatment to the eye may treat the tumor while preserving the eye. As the tumor is very radiosensitive, this treatment method is very effective. Though the radiation may cause damage to the surrounding structures of the eye, e.g., lens (cataract), lacrimal system (dry eye), orbit (bone maldevelopment) etc. It also increases the chance of developing secondary tumor of the bone, especially in children with tumor involving both eyes.
Localized Plaque radiation therapy: This method involves applying radioactive plaque close to the tumor on the sclera, and thus gives the radiation therapy in a localized area. It significantly decreases the local complications associated with radiation therapy.
Photocoagulation: Laser treatment for the tumor is effective and safe for tumors that are smaller in size. In the right cases, this treatment may help in preserving eye as well as the sight of the child.
Cryotherapy: this involves freezing of the tumor by applying a special probe on the external surface of the eye (sclera). This treatment is done under direct observation and is effective in saving the eye and sight in patients with small tumor.
Chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs. There has been a recent preference towards treatment with systemic drugs as an additional treatment. The chemotherapy may decrease the size of the tumor and thus make it more amenable to local treatment like laser, cryotherapy and plaque radiation.
you can choose which treatment is best for the patient by...
Size of tumor
location of tumor
if the tumor has spread
status of the other eye
family history
associated complications like retinal detachment
wishes and concerns of parents
availability of faculty.
"Retinoblastoma Treatment and Symptoms." Treatment and Symptoms. Visitech. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. <www.visitech.org/retinoblastoma.html>.
Questions:
1. How can you tell if somebody has retinoblastoma?
2. Does the child have a good chance of living after the removal of the tumor?
3. How can you tell what treatments to choose if somebody has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma?
What is Retinoblastoma?
Retinoblastoma is eye cancer, which is an ocular tumor in the retina cells. It's a life threatening cancer which occurs in the black part of the eye, and can destroy vision. It got its name because it occurs in the retina of the eye.
Another form of eye cancer is medulloepithelioma, but this one isn't as common as retinoblastoma.
Hereditary?
This is sometimes inherited by a gene mutation which is called hereditary retinoblastoma. But if it only happens in one eye, then it usually isn't inherited. It is hereditary in 30 to 40% of patients. 25% of patients with the hereditary disease have a positive family history, while the other 75% of new hereditary patients are caused by new mutations or from inheritance from a parent who carried the gene but doesn't have any symptoms.
1 out of every 15,000 live births gets this disease.
"Who Gets Retinoblastoma?" Digital Journal of Ophthalmology. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <www.djo.harvard.edu/site.php?url=/patients/pi/436>.
You can tell if somebody has this disease by the pupil of the eye having a loss of color by being white ish.
Symptoms:
Treatment:
Since retinoblastoma is rare, only few doctors or doctors in major cancer hospitals can treat this disorder. After the tumor is removed there is a good chance, 90%, that the child will live.
"How Is Retinoblastoma Treated?" American Cancer Society. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. <www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content>.
Treatment options:
you can choose which treatment is best for the patient by...
"Retinoblastoma Treatment and Symptoms." Treatment and Symptoms. Visitech. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. <www.visitech.org/retinoblastoma.html>.
Questions:
1. How can you tell if somebody has retinoblastoma?
2. Does the child have a good chance of living after the removal of the tumor?
3. How can you tell what treatments to choose if somebody has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma?